Took a road trip this past week-end, and had a chance to fondle a Fausti Round Bottom SxS 20 gauge, 28", straight stock, double triggers. I loved that gun!! But, I am a little apprehensive about picking up any "off-brands".
Five years down the road, Fausti might be teats up, and parts unavailable. Thoughts?

I prefer SXS 20ga doubles and with double triggers and a straight grip as you mentioned.

I have handled the Fausti doubles. They are nice but somewhat expensive. Also a used gun is ready for some brush and wet.

At least expensive compared to the two used ones I got a couple of years ago. While I found mine on the rack in CT gunshops and while you might be far from one there is the internet. I have had very good luck on Gun Broker etc.

One of the 20's is a V.Bernadeli Gamecock with 27.5" barrels at 5#,13oz. I have had this one longer and done very well on pheasants with it. It cost about $880.

The other is a Ugartechea M221 with 24.5" barrels at 5#,9oz. It was as new with plain wood. It's my current favorite. It cost only $400.



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Fausti isn't an "off brand," just new to some American consumers. It has been around for a long time. Originally they were a small more-or-less custom shop that made shotguns "to order" from parts sourced mainly from larger manufacturers: some Italian, some German (receivers and Krupp barrels) and Belgian (for "damascus" barrels, when they were popular). In other words, they were just like most of the double shotgun makers in Italy, except for the "giants"--Beretta, Bernardelli, Franchi, and one of the Zolis, all of whom made other weapons, including military.

Recently they have become a much larger and more modern firm with more modern manufacturing methods. I was in their factory store near Brescia this October. It looks to me like they will be there for a long time. Business was....booming. They make everything from field grade guns to truly spectacular ones (that most of us would never take hunting--and I suspect most Italians wouldn't either).

They make many of the shotguns for the lable names.

The early Weatherby Regency shotguns from the late 60's were labeled "Made in Italy". Did Fausti make the Regency?

No, Weatherby Regencys were made by Angelo Zoli--or the parts were put together by Zoli after being made by various shops.

I bought a Fausti DEA SL 28-gauge last year. Got it in as a test gun for an article, and after shooting it couldn't let it go. It has a single trigger, and I don't usually like single triggers, but couldn't make the trigger fail to go bang in quite a bit of shooting. It's a superbly balanced 5 pounds 2 ounces, with 28" barrels with screw-in chokes, and a really nice little gun!

I have seen enough negative comments/experiences re Fausti shotguns on places like Shooting Sportsman BB and Upland Journal, that I would be real careful there. Mostly related to very uneven quality of fit and finish on some of their guns. The old rule "Buy the Gun, Not the Name" still applies.

I just bought an Ugartechea Mdl 40 16 bore sideby, preowned that I couldnt be happier with. Not a big name but one that is often overlooked and/or under appreciated.

And Vencinzio Bernardelli is one of my very favorite makers. TOO BAD they went OB after 250 years!!

NB

Yeah, VB was a great loss. They made great doubles at a decent price for many years.